Stove cover

ABSTRACT

It is disclosed a foldable surface of a first flat expanse. The surface includes four identical pockets for receiving four flat rigid inserts, and borders between the pockets. The borders allow folding of the surface a much smaller second flat expanse. A shape of the flat rigid insert may be a rectangle, a square, half a circle, a quarter of a circle, or an equilateral right-angle triangle. The foldable surface includes textile, fire-retardant treated textile or a textile withstanding a temperature of 1000° F. The filled pockets are covered with sheaths. Margins of the pockets and margins of the sheaths include mating straps. The foldable surface further includes a skirt disposed downward from the perimeter of the first flat expanse. The skirt may have height of at least 5 inches, and may include holes for its anchoring to underneath objects.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention

The invention is in the field of kitchen appliances, especially articlesfor covering cooking means when that are not in their usual use, suchthat their area may be used for other purposes.

BACKGROUND

Stove covers provide two needs of a kitchen owner. The first need is toprotect cooktop surfaces from accumulation of dust, debris, cat hair, orother impurities from falling inside the cooking grates, thus reducingfire safety hazards and harsh odors.

The second need is to provide additional working surface, especially insmall and densely packed kitchens where working surfaces are inshortage. A stove cover may provide such an excess surface whenever thestove is not in use and has already cooled down. Furthermore, a stovecover which stands high temperatures made be used right after using thestove. Thus, the object of the current invention is to provide such astove cover to allow using of the space for placing a chopping block,dropping groceries off, or preparing a healthy lunch.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is disclosed a foldable surface of a first flat expanse. The surfaceincludes pockets for receiving respective rigid flat inserts to getfilled pockets, and borders between the pockets. The borders allowfolding of the foldable surface to a second flat expanse, much smallerthan the first flat expanse.

In some embodiments, the foldable surface includes four identicalpockets for respective four identical inserts.

In some embodiments, the foldable surface includes a certain number ofpockets, and the second expanse is less than (the first flatexpanse)*1.2 /(the certain number of pockets).

In some embodiments, a shape of a flat rigid insert is a rectangle, asquare, half a circle, a quarter of a circle, and an equilateralright-angle triangle.

In some embodiments, the foldable surface includes the flat rigidinserts.

In some embodiments, the foldable surface includes textile.

In some embodiments, the foldable surface includes sheaths for closingthe filled pockets. Preferably, margins of the pockets and margins ofthe sheaths include mating straps for closing of the filled pockets bythe sheaths. Preferably, the sheaths include textile.

The above-mentioned textile is fire-retardant treated textile or atextile withstanding a temperature of 1000° F.

In some embodiments, the foldable surface further includes a skirtdisposed downward from the perimeter of the first flat expanse.Preferably, the skirt has height of at least 5 inches. Preferably, theskirt includes holes for its anchoring to underneath objects.

It is disclosed a method for using a foldable surface of a first flatexpanse. The method includes inserting flat rigid inserts into pocketsof the foldable surface to get filled pockets, closing the filledpockets by sheaths, and folding the foldable surface along bordersbetween the filled pockets to occupy a second flat expanse, much smallerthan the first flat expanse.

In some embodiments, the method further includes a step of unfolding thesurface, and a step of covering a stove by the spread-out surface.

In some embodiments, the foldable surface further includes a skirt, andthe method includes a step of disposing the skirt downward from aperimeter of the first flat expanse.

In some embodiments, the method includes a step of sticking matingstraps at margins of the pockets and at margins of the sheaths.

In some embodiments, the method further includes a step of anchoring theskirt to an underneath object.

It is disclosed a method for producing a foldable surface of a firstflat expanse. The method comprising preparing a textile surface of afirst substantially flat expanse, creating pockets on the textilesurface, and connecting borders between the pockets, and inserting flatrigid inserts into the pockets. The borders allow folding of thefoldable surface after being filled with rigid inserts.

The method further includes connecting first mating straps to theborders, and closing the filled pockets by sheaths having margins with asecond mating strap for mating with the one first mating strap on theborder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may best be understood by reference to the followingdetailed description when read with the accompanied drawings in which:

FIG. 1 presents foldable stove cover used as a surface for fruit platesover a stove.

FIG. 2 depicts a foldable stove cover on a partially exposed gas stove.

FIG. 3 presents a folded stove cover.

FIG. 4 shows four rigid rectangular inserts within respective pockets.

FIG. 5 depicts four rectangular pocket sheaths closing the four pockets.

FIG. 6 is a side cross-section of a filled pocket.

FIG. 7 presents a hook strap connecting a skirt of the foldable stovecover to a handle of an underneath oven.

FIG. 8A is a rectangle shaped rigid insert.

FIG. 8B is a square shaped rigid insert.

FIG. 8C is a half-circle shaped rigid insert.

FIG. 8D is a quarter-circle shaped rigid insert.

FIG. 8E is an equilateral right triangle shaped rigid insert.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a method for using a foldable surface.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a method for producing a foldable surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described in terms of specific exampleembodiments. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited tothe example embodiments disclosed. It should also be understood that notevery feature of the methods and systems handling the described game isnecessary to implement the invention as claimed in any particular one ofthe appended claims. Various elements and features of the inventedarticle are described to fully enable the invention. It should also beunderstood that throughout this disclosure, where a method is shown ordescribed, the steps of the method may be performed in any order orsimultaneously, unless it is clear from the context that one stepdepends on another being performed first.

Before explaining several embodiments of the invention in detail, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of construction and the arrangement of the components setforth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Theinvention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced orcarried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that thephraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. The systems, methods, andexamples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to belimiting.

In the description and claims of the present application, each of theverbs “comprise”, “include” and “have”, and conjugates thereof, are usedto indicate that the object or objects of the verb are not necessarily acomplete listing of members, components, elements or parts of thesubject or subjects of the verb.

A foldable surface 2 is used to cover a gas stove 4 as shown in FIG. 1and FIG. 2. The structure of the foldable surface 2 enables stabledeposition of the shown fruit plates 6 on it. The structure furtherenables to fold the foldable surface 2 to about one fourth of its area,as shown in FIG. 3, for easy storage in a closet, pantry, or otheravailable storage area in the kitchen.

In the next sections, a description of the structure of the foldablesurface 2 is followed by a description of its method of use and adescription of its method of production.

A Foldable Surface for Covering a Stove (FIGS. 1-8)

The foldable surface or cover 2 has a flat expanse 8 as shown the backview of FIG. 4. In the back side of the foldable surface 2, there arefour pockets 10 for receiving respective rigid flat inserts 12. As shownin FIG. 5, sheaths 14 cover the pockets 10.

A side cross-section of the cover 2 is shown in FIG. 6. Borders 16separate the pockets 10 from each other. Mating strap 18 are attached tothe borders 16 and to the margins 20 of the pocket 10. Mating strap 22are attached to the margins of sheaths 14.

In an example, mating straps 18 are Velcro hook strap while mating strap22 are Velcro loop straps. Thus, upon placing of the sheaths on thepockets 10, the straps 18 stick to the straps 22, and keep the rigidinserts 12 within the pockets 10.

The combination of borders 16, straps 18 and straps 22 allow folding ofthe foldable surface to a flat expanse 24 of FIG. 3, which is muchsmaller than the flat expanse 8. For example, in case that the foldablesurface 2 includes four identical pockets 10 for respective fouridentical inserts 12, the flat expanse 24 is less than 30% of the flatexpanse 8.

The foldable surface 2 may further include a skirt 26 disposed downwardfrom the perimeter of the flat expanse 8. The skirt may have a height ofat least 5 inches, and it hides the lower part of the stove and thusaffects aesthetic appearance.

As shown in FIG. 7, the skirt 26 may include holes 28 for its anchoringto underneath handle 30 of an oven, for example. In the example of FIG.7 a hook 32 of a hook strap is connected to the handle 30 while a strap34 is interlaced within the hole 28.

The foldable surface 2 and the sheaths 14 may be made from a textile.The textile may be fire-retardant treated textile, a textilewithstanding a temperature of 1000° F. or even 2000° F. Additionally, oralternatively, the textile may be waterproof material, and\orheavy-duty, easy-to-maintain durable textile.

The rigid inserts 12 may include wood, high density polymer, ceramic,glass, metals, and mixtures thereof.

The stability of the foldable surface needed for supporting the fruitplates 6 is provided by two features of the stove and of the foldablesurface. First, as shown in FIG. 2, the stove 4 includes metallicstructure 29 for supporting cooking utensils, which supports the surface2. Secondly, the four rigid inserts 12 are packed closely within thepockets 10 to avoid collapsing under the weight of plates 6.

Rather than having four pockets 10 for four rigid inserts 12, a foldablesurface may include only two pockets 10 for two rigid inserts 12, ormore than four pockets 10. Also, the shape of the pockets 10 and rigidinserts 12 may be one of the examples of FIG. 8, as well as any shapethat is consistent with the necessary features of the foldable surface2.

FIG. 8A depicts a rectangle shaped rigid insert 36. FIG. 8B illustratesa square shaped rigid insert 38. FIG. 8C shows a half-circle shapedrigid insert 40. FIG. 8D presents a quarter-circle shaped rigid insert42. Finally, FIG. 8E depicts an equilateral right triangle shaped rigidinsert 44.

A Method for Using a Foldable Surface (FIGS. 1-7, 9)

A method 100 for using a foldable surface 2 of a flat expanse 8 ispresented in the flowchart of FIG. 9. The method 100 includes a step 105of inserting flat rigid inserts 12 into pockets 10 of the foldablesurface 2, step 110 of sticking mating straps 18 and 22 at margins ofthe pockets 10 and at margins of the sheaths 14, respectively, and astep 115 of mating and closing the filled pockets 10 by sheaths 14. Themethod 100 further includes a step 120 of folding the foldable surfacealong borders 16 between the filled pockets 10 to occupy a flat expanse24, much smaller than the flat expanse 8.

The method 100 further includes a step 125 of unfolding the surface 2,and a step 130 of covering a stove 4 by the spread-out surface 2.

The foldable surface 2 may further include a skirt 26, and the method100 includes a step 135 of disposing the skirt 26 downward from aperimeter of the flat expanse 8, and a step 140 of anchoring the skirt26 to an underneath object 30.

A Method for Creating a Foldable Surface (FIGS. 1-7, 10)

A method 200 for producing a foldable surface 2 of a flat expanse 8 isdepicted in the flowchart of FIG. 10. The method 200 includes a step 205of preparing a textile surface 2 of a flat expanse 8, a step 210 ofconnecting a skirt to the foldable surface 2, a step 215 of creatingpockets 10 on the textile surface 2, a step 220 of connecting borders 16to the surface 2 between the pockets 10, and a step 225 of insertingflat rigid inserts 12 into the pockets 10.

The method further includes a step 230 of connecting mating straps 18 tothe borders 16, and a method 235 of closing the filled pockets 10 bysheaths 14 having margins with mating straps 22 for mating with themating strap 18 on the border.

1. A foldable surface of a first substantially flat expanse, the surfacecomprising: a. at least two pockets for receiving respective at leasttwo rigid substantially flat inserts to get at least two filled pockets;and b. at least one border between said at least two pockets, said atleast one border being configured to allow folding of said foldablesurface to occupy a second substantially flat expanse, said secondsubstantially flat expanse being much smaller than said firstsubstantially flat expanse.
 2. The foldable surface of claim 1comprising four substantially identical pockets for respective foursubstantially identical inserts.
 3. The foldable surface of claim 1wherein the foldable surface includes a certain number of pockets, andsaid second expanse is less than (said first substantially flatexpanse)*1.2/(said certain number of pockets).
 4. The foldable surfaceof claim 1 wherein a shape of a substantially flat rigid insert isselected from a list of geometric shapes consisting a rectangle, asquare, half a circle, a quarter of a circle, and an equilateralright-angle triangle.
 5. The foldable surface of claim 1 furtherincluding said at least two substantially flat rigid inserts.
 6. Thefoldable surface of claim 1 wherein the foldable surface includestextile.
 7. The foldable surface of claim 1 further including at leasttwo sheaths for closing said at least two filled pockets.
 8. Thefoldable surface of claim 7 wherein margins of said at least two pocketsand margins of said at least two sheaths include mating straps enablingclosing of said at least two pockets by said at least two sheaths. 9.The foldable surface of claim 7 wherein said at least two sheathsinclude textile.
 10. The foldable surface of claim 6 or 9 wherein thetextile is fire-retardant treated textile or a textile withstanding atemperature of 1000° F.
 11. The foldable surface of claim 1 furtherincluding a skirt configured to be disposed downward from most of thelength of the perimeter of said first substantially flat expanse. 12.The foldable surface of claim 11 wherein at least part of said skirt hasheight of at least 5 inches.
 13. The foldable surface of claim 11wherein said skirt includes at least one hole for anchoring said skirtto at least one object residing below the skirt.
 14. A method for usinga foldable surface of a first substantially flat expanse, the methodcomprising: a. inserting at least two substantially flat rigid insertsinto at least two pockets of the foldable surface to get at least twofilled pockets; b. closing said at least two filled pockets by at leasttwo sheaths; and c. folding said foldable surface along at least oneborder between said at least two filled pockets to occupy a secondsubstantially flat expanse, said second substantially flat expanse beingmuch smaller than said first substantially flat expanse.
 15. The methodof claim 14 wherein the method further includes a step of unfolding afolded foldable surface, and a step of covering a stove by thespread-out foldable surface.
 16. The method of claim 14 wherein thefoldable surface further includes a skirt, and the method includes astep of disposing said skirt downward from at least part of a perimeterof said first substantially flat expanse.
 17. The method of claim 14wherein the method includes a step of sticking mating straps at marginsof said at least two pockets and at margins of said at least twosheaths.
 18. The method of claim 16 wherein the method further includesa step of anchoring said skirt to a one or more objects.
 19. A methodfor producing a foldable surface of a first substantially flat expanse,the method comprising: a. preparing a textile surface of a firstsubstantially flat expanse; b. connecting a skirt to most of theperimeter of said first expanse. c creating at least two pockets on saidtextile surface, d. connecting at least one border to said textilesurface between pockets, said at least one border being configured toallow folding of said foldable surface after being filled with at leasttwo rigid inserts; and e. inserting at least two substantially flatrigid inserts into said at least two pockets to get at least two filledpockets.
 20. The method of claim 19 further including connecting atleast one first mating strap to said at least one border, and closingsaid at least two filled pockets by at least two sheaths having marginswith a second mating strap configured for mating said at least one firstmating strap.